Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam, "Satellite Specialized Zone to Become Aerospace Hub"

Expressing Aspirations at the Launch Ceremony of the Republic of Korea Space Industry Cluster

"Gyeongnam Province will become the center of South Korea's space economy vision, and the satellite-specialized zone to be established in Gyeongnam will serve as a stepping stone for the leap to a space powerhouse."

Governor Park Wan-su of Gyeongnam Province said this on the 13th at the launch ceremony of the South Korean space industry cluster held at Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in Sacheon, Gyeongnam.

Governor Park stated, "Gyeongnam is the optimal location for the space industry, accounting for 70% of South Korea's aerospace industry production and housing 60% of related companies," adding, "Through the satellite-specialized zone, it will be responsible for satellite development that creates substantial added value in the space industry."

Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, is announcing future plans related to the aerospace industry, including the operation of a satellite-specialized zone, at the launch ceremony of the Korea Space Industry Cluster.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

"A cooperative system among industry, academia, and research will support this, involving 104 companies such as KAI and Hanwha Aerospace, and 13 research institutions including the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute, the Korea Institute of Materials Science, and Gyeongsang National University," he elaborated.

He emphasized, "The satellite-specialized zone to be established in Gyeongnam will center on the space environment testing facility to be installed in Jinju and the Satellite Development Innovation Center to be built in Sacheon," adding, "Through this, our Gyeongnam will become the core of the space economy vision."

Governor Park announced plans to build key foundations for satellite development, including support for testing and certification of ultra-small satellites and the creation of a future aerospace ecosystem.

He also set goals such as the localization of aircraft engines based on the local aviation industry and the development of future air mobility vehicles.

Furthermore, he declared the intention to build a space aerospace complex city that will serve as a hub attracting talent and companies.

The launch ceremony of the Korean space industry cluster was held at Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in Sacheon, Gyeongnam.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

Governor Park said, "We will prioritize improving the living conditions of employees at the Sacheon Aerospace Office and promote a world-class aerospace complex city with space functions through industry-academia-research collaboration where space environment-related technologies, research, and personnel converge."

"We will create an attractive global aerospace complex city centered on the Aerospace Office that attracts companies and talent," he added, requesting "the interest and support of the government and related ministries."

About 450 people, including President Yoon Suk-yeol, Minister of Science and ICT Lee Jong-ho, Governor Park, and business leaders, attended the launch ceremony that day.

The space industry cluster refers to a triangular system where Gyeongnam is responsible for satellites, Jeonnam for launch vehicles, and Daejeon for research and talent development, serving as a growth base for private-led space industry promotion.

Gyeongnam Province, which will establish the satellite-specialized zone, plans to invest a total project cost of 257.2 billion KRW centered on the Aerospace Office to be opened in May this year, building the space environment testing facility in Jinju as a core axis for testing and certification, and the Satellite Development Innovation Center in Sacheon as the hub of the satellite special zone.

The province expects that once the Gyeongnam satellite-specialized zone is established, it will greatly contribute to activating a private-led space industry ecosystem by supporting future space technology testing and certification, establishing an ultra-small satellite hub center, and supporting the localization and development of space components.

Additionally, leveraging the strength of having about 70% of the aerospace manufacturing industry concentrated in the region, it plans to create a future aerospace ecosystem by localizing engines for private and military aircraft and developing future air mobility (AAM) vehicles (KAI) to enter the global civil market.

Moreover, to build the aerospace complex city, the province will focus on improving the living conditions of relocated Aerospace Office employees and construct a self-sufficient city with industry, academia, and research functions through upgrading Sacheon Airport to an international airport, increasing KTX train routes, and promoting educational development special zones.

President Yoon Suk-yeol delivers congratulatory remarks at the launch ceremony of the Korea Aerospace Industry Cluster held at Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in Sacheon, Gyeongnam.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

On the same day, Gyeongnam Province proposed four items to presidential office officials, including the inclusion of aerospace complex city transportation infrastructure in the national plan and designation of Gyeongnam Aviation National Industrial Complex as an investment promotion zone.

In his congratulatory speech, President Yoon said, "The space industry cluster will lead South Korea's great journey toward becoming one of the top five space powers," and "The government will strongly support the success of the triangular system of the space industry cluster."

He also promised, "We will attract 100 trillion KRW in investment in South Korea's space industry by 2045 and create more than 250,000 quality jobs."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.